Practical perspectives on IP strategy, licensing, and patent enforcement by Kai-Erik Elers. Browse the summaries by topic and follow the links to read the original posts on LinkedIn.
Aligning Licensed Rights With Business Strategy
The rights granted in a license determine how the agreement supports the licensee’s business. This post explores statutory and contractual rights, manufacturing arrangements, and the strategic value of defining what each party can do.
Defining Improvements in a License
What counts as an improvement can become a commercially important question in licensing. This post explores technical dependencies, the surrounding technology ecosystem, and why legal and technical teams need to develop the definition together.
Mutual Improvement Clauses
A mutual improvement clause can give both licensing parties access to future patented developments. This post explores the commercial logic, grant-back and sublicensing questions, and how trade secret choices may influence the arrangement.
Improvement Clauses and Future Licensing
A licensee’s later patent can complicate the licensor’s plans to offer additional licenses. This post explores how improvement clauses can address that risk and support a sustainable strategy for non-exclusive technology licensing.
Define the IP Included in a License
A license without a clear list of covered intellectual property can create uncertainty for both parties. This post explores valuation, scope, infringement awareness, and why identifying patents and trade secrets supports stronger commercial agreements.
Financing Finnish Spin-offs
A successful spin-off needs financing that matches its technology, market, and growth ambitions. This article explores the Finnish venture capital landscape, investor expectations, funding gaps, and the challenges of securing capital beyond early-stage development.
Aligning Licensing With Organizational Values
The use of licensed technology can affect an organization’s mission and values. This post explores licensee selection, exclusivity, fields of application, and contractual choices that help retain influence over how intellectual property is commercialized.
Why Cross-Licensing Rarely Fits Research Institutes
Cross-licensing can help companies resolve disputes and gain access to complementary technology. This post explores why research institutes, which primarily create IP for licensing rather than product sales, may gain less from reciprocal patent rights.
Talent Mobility and Innovation Ecosystems
A strong spin-off ecosystem depends on more than intellectual property and venture capital. This post uses Silicon Valley as a comparison to explore how talent mobility, shared knowledge, and legislation shape opportunities for innovation.
The Wider Cost of Non-compete Agreements
Non-compete agreements can affect employees, employers, and the broader innovation economy. Drawing on personal experience, this post questions their impact on talent mobility and considers whether they support Finland’s long-term economic interests.
Managing Trade Secrets During Employee Departures
An employee’s resignation should not trigger a last-minute scramble to protect confidential information. This post explores how defined trade secrets, clear access practices, and regular training can help organizations handle transitions more confidently.
Trade Secret Training and Research Results
Employee training helps organizations recognize and manage potential trade secrets. This post explores questions raised during a VTT training session, including public funding, academic publication, and the initial classification of research results.